Devices and methods for selectively filtering message content

ABSTRACT

Methods for selectively filtering message content received at a mobile device based upon a current location of the mobile device and/or a user&#39;s presence status and devices configured to selectively filter message content based upon a location of the mobile device and/or a user&#39;s presence status.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/580,700, filed Oct. 16, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,301,168.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to content filtering and, moreparticularly, to devices and methods for selectively filtering messagecontent based upon location and/or user presence status.

BACKGROUND

Text and multimedia messaging are popular methods of communication usedby an increasing number of wireless service subscribers worldwide. Textmessaging offers a convenient way for people to engage in quick,text-based conversations. Multimedia messaging offers a similarlyconvenient way for people to exchange images, audio, and/or video,sometimes in addition to text.

Most text and multimedia messaging sessions can be conducted in adiscrete manner. When a user is not available to receive an incomingmessage, the message may be inadvertently disclosed to prying eyes ormay be subject to discovery by co-workers, family, friends, or otherpeople who the user does not want viewing the message for one reason oranother.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method forselectively filtering message content received at a mobile device basedupon a current location of the mobile device is disclosed. The methodincludes detecting a message being received at a mobile device. Themessage includes message content that is considered appropriate orinappropriate based upon a current location of the mobile device and afiltering rule established for the current location. The method furtherincludes determining the current location of the mobile device using alocation component of the mobile device and analyzing the messagecontent to determine whether any portion of the message content isinappropriate based upon the filtering rule established for the currentlocation. If it is determined that the message content is appropriate,the method further includes presenting all of the message content to auser of the mobile device. If it is determined that any portion of themessage content is inappropriate, the method further includes modifyingthe inappropriate portion of the message content, such that theinappropriate portion is indiscernible to the user when the mobiledevice is at the current location, presenting only the appropriateportion of the message content to the user of the mobile device,monitoring movement of the mobile device from the current location to asafe location, whereat a filtering rule established for the safelocation considers the inappropriate portion of the message content tobe appropriate when the mobile device is at the safe location, modifyingthe message content based upon the filtering rule established for thesafe location, such that previously considered inappropriate portion isavailable to the user when the mobile device is at the safe location;and presenting the message content to the user of the mobile device.

In some embodiments, the message is a text message and the messagecontent is text. In other embodiments, the message is a multimediamessage and the message content is some combination of text, graphics,audio, and video.

In some embodiments, the filtering rule is established for the currentlocation and an additional location. In other embodiments, the filteringrule is defined based upon criteria set by the user of the mobiledevice. In still other embodiments, the filtering rule is defined basedupon criteria set by the user of the mobile device. In furtherembodiments, the filtering rule is defined based upon criteria set by awireless service provider. In some embodiments, the filtering rule isdefined based upon a content rating assigned to the message content.

In some embodiments, modifying the inappropriate portion of the messagecontent includes blocking the inappropriate portion of the messagecontent, and modifying the message content based upon the filtering ruleestablished for the safe location includes unblocking the previouslyconsidered inappropriate portion of the message content. In otherembodiments, modifying the inappropriate portion of the message contentincludes temporarily removing the inappropriate portion of the messagecontent, and modifying the message content based upon the filtering ruleestablished for the safe location includes adding the previouslyconsidered inappropriate portion of the message content back into themessage content. In still other embodiments, modifying the inappropriateportion of the message content includes altering the inappropriateportion of the message content, and modifying the message content basedupon the filtering rule established for the safe location includesundoing the altering of the previously considered inappropriate portionof the message content.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a mobile deviceis configured to selectively filter message content based upon alocation of the mobile device. The mobile device includes a transceiverfor receiving message content, a processor, and a memory, incommunication with the processor, the memory being configured to storeinstructions that are executable by the processor to carry out variousfunctions. The instructions cause the processor to detect a messagebeing received, via the transceiver, at the mobile device. The messageincludes message content that is considered appropriate or inappropriatebased upon a current location of the mobile device and a filtering ruleestablished for the current location. The instructions further cause theprocessor to determine the current location of the mobile device using alocation component of the mobile device, and analyze the message contentto determine whether any portion of the message content is inappropriatebased upon the filtering rule established for the current location. Ifit is determined that all of the message content is appropriate, theinstructions cause the processor to present the message content to auser of the mobile device. If it is determined that any portion of themessage content is inappropriate, the instructions cause the processorto: modify the inappropriate portion of the message content, such thatthe inappropriate portion is not available to the user when the mobiledevice is at the current location, present only the appropriate portionof the message content to the user of the mobile device, monitormovement of the mobile device from the current location to a safelocation, whereat a filtering rule established for the safe locationconsiders the inappropriate portion of the message content to beappropriate when the mobile device is at the safe location, modify themessage content based upon the filtering rule established for the safelocation, such that previously considered inappropriate portion isavailable to the user when the mobile device is at the safe location,and present the message content to the user of the mobile device.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method forselectively filtering message content received at a mobile device basedupon a current presence status of a user of the mobile device includesdetecting a message being received at a mobile device. The messageincludes message content that is considered appropriate or inappropriatebased upon a current presence status of the mobile device and afiltering rule established for the current presence status. The methodfurther includes analyzing the message content to determine whether anyportion of the message content is inappropriate based upon the filteringrule established for the current presence status.

If it is determined that the message content is appropriate, the methodfurther includes presenting the message content to a user of the mobiledevice. If it is determined that any portion of the message content isinappropriate, the method further includes modifying the inappropriateportion of the message content, such that the inappropriate portion isindiscernible to the user when the current presence status is active,presenting only the appropriate portion of the message content to theuser of the mobile device, detecting a change from the current presencestatus to a new presence status, the new presence status triggering anew filtering rule to be implemented that considers the previouslyconsidered inappropriate portion of the message content as beingappropriate for the new presence status, modifying the message contentbased upon the new filtering rule, such that the previously consideredinappropriate portion is available to the user, and presenting themessage content to the user of the mobile device.

In some embodiments, the filtering rule is defined based upon criteriaset by the user of the mobile device. In some embodiments, the filteringrule is defined based upon a content rating assigned to the messagecontent. In some embodiments, the filtering rule is defined based uponcriteria set by a wireless service provider.

In some embodiments, modifying the inappropriate portion of the messagecontent includes blocking the inappropriate portion of the messagecontent and modifying the message content based upon the new filteringrule includes unblocking the previously considered inappropriate portionof the message content. In other embodiments, modifying theinappropriate portion of the message content includes temporarilyremoving the inappropriate portion of the message content and modifyingthe message content based upon the filtering rule established for thesafe location includes adding the previously considered inappropriateportion of the message content back into the message content. In otherembodiments, modifying the inappropriate portion of the message contentincludes altering the inappropriate portion of the message content andmodifying the message content based upon the new filtering rule includesundoing the altering of the previously considered inappropriate portionof the message content.

In some embodiments, the message is a text message including text as themessage content. In other embodiments, the message is a multimediamessage including some combination of text, graphics, audio, and video.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. illustrates an exemplary wireless communications network systemin which the devices of the present disclosure may operate, according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary mobile device and components thereof,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method for selectively filtering messagecontent received at a mobile device based upon a current location of themobile device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method for selectively filtering messagecontent received at a mobile device based upon a current presence statusof the mobile device, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) of amessage content filtering application operating on the exemplary mobiledevice of FIG. 2, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a GUI of a message content filtering applicationoperating on the exemplary mobile device of FIG. 2, according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are providedherein. The disclosed embodiments are merely examples that may beembodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. Asused herein, for example, exemplary, and similar terms, referexpansively to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen,model or pattern. The figures are not necessarily to scale and somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized, such as to show details ofparticular components. In some instances, well-known components,systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in orderto avoid obscuring the devices and methods of the present disclosure.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for theclaims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the artto variously employ the present disclosure.

The devices and methods of the present disclosure are described incontext of a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network and aUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network and, inparticular, wireless messaging within these network types. It should beunderstood that the present disclosure is not limited to GSM and UMTSnetworks. Rather, the present disclosure is applicable to any existingor yet to be developed telecommunications technology that supports ShortMessage Service (SMS) messaging, Enhanced Message Service (EMS)Messaging, and/or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) messaging services.Some examples of other suitable telecommunications technologies include,but are not limited to, networks utilizing Time Division Multiple Access(TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Wideband CodeDivision Multiple Access (WCDMA), Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiplexing (OFDM), and various other 2G, 2.5G, 3G (third generation),and above (4G and beyond) technologies. Examples of suitable databearers, for example to support multimedia messaging services, includeGeneral Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data rates for GlobalEvolution (EDGE), the High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) protocol family,such as, High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), Enhanced Uplink(EUL) or otherwise termed High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA),Evolved HSPA (HSPA+), and various other current and future data bearers.

While the methods of the present disclosure are often described in ageneral context of computer-executable instructions, the methods of thepresent disclosure can also be implemented in combination with otherprogram modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software. Theterm application, or variants thereof, is used expansively herein toinclude routines, program modules, programs, components, datastructures, algorithms, and the like. Applications can be implemented onvarious system configurations, including single-processor ormultiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based,programmable consumer electronics, combinations thereof, and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary wireless communications network100 is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The wireless communications network 100 provides a suitableenvironment in which mobile devices exchange messages including, forexample, Short Message Service (SMS), Enhanced Message Service (EMS),and Multimedia Message Service (MMS) messages. The messages each includemessage content, which includes text, graphics, audio, and/or video.

Text may include numbers, letters, characters, symbols, combinationsthereof, and the like. Graphics may include images, pictures,computer-generated graphics, combinations thereof, and the like. Audiomay include music, ringtones, spoken word, podcasts, sounds,combinations thereof, and the like. Video may include recorded video,live video, animated video, video, computer-generated video,combinations thereof, and the like.

The illustrated wireless communications network system 100 includes twowireless networks, wireless network A 102 and wireless network B 104.The illustrated wireless network A 102 includes a mobile device 106,such as a cellular telephone, wireless messaging device, computer of anyform factor (e.g., laptop, notebook, netbook, subnotebook, etc.), or thelike. As a computer, the mobile device 106 may be configured with afixed or removable network access card (not shown) to allow a user toaccess the wireless network A 102. In this embodiment, the computer mayalso be configured with messaging software to support SMS, EMS, and/orMMS messaging.

The illustrated mobile device 106 is in communication with a radioaccess network (RAN) 108. The RAN 108 includes at least one basetransceiver station (BTS), commonly referred to as a cell tower. The BTSprovides the air/radio interface by which the mobile device communicateswirelessly with wireless network A 102. Each BTS is in communicationwith a base station controller (BSC) (not shown). A BSC allocates radioresources to the mobile device, administers frequencies, and controlshandovers between BTSs. A BSC communicates with a circuit-switched corenetwork and packet-switched core network via a mobile switching center(MSC) and serving GPRS support node (SGSN), respectively (components notshown). MSC, SGSN and other network elements of the core networks arenot illustrated so as not to distract from the various aspects of thepresent disclosure.

Wireless network A 102 also includes an SMS service center (SMSC) 110and an MMS service center (MMSC) 112, both illustrated as being capableof communication with wireless network B 104 through an SMSC 114 and anMMSC 116 of wireless network B 104. The SMSCs 110, 114 are a combinationof hardware and software, and are responsible for receiving, storing,and forwarding SMS messages in accordance with SMS standard protocols.In some embodiments, SMS messages are received from a sending mobiledevice (e.g., the mobile device 106 or the mobile device 120), storeduntil a recipient mobile device (e.g., the mobile device 120 or themobile device 106) is available, and forwarded to the recipient mobiledevice. In other embodiments, SMS messages are received from an SMSentity (not shown), stored until the destination mobile device 106, 120is available, and forwarded to the destination mobile device 106, 120.The SMS entity may be, for example, a voicemail server that providesvoicemail notifications via SMS, an advertising server, an Internetwebsite, an e-mail server that provides e-mail notifications via SMS, acomputer-based SMS client, and the like.

The MMSCs 112, 116 provide a similar store and forward function for MMSmessages in accordance with MMS standard protocols. The MMSCs 112, 116are a combination of hardware and software. For example, the MMSCs 112,116 are responsible for receiving MMS message content, storing themessage content, dynamically generating an URL link for the messagecontent, generating an MMS notification message including an URL pointerto the dynamically generated URL link, sending the MMS notificationmessage to a designated recipient mobile device, and providing the MMSmessage content upon request from the recipient mobile device. In someembodiments, the MMSCs 112, 116 are configured to communicate with awireless application protocol (WAP) proxy server/gateway to provide theMMS message to the recipient device. In some embodiments, the MMSCs 112,116 are configured to communicate with the SMSCs 110, 114 to performvarious functions, such as sending an MMS notification message to therecipient mobile device via WAP push over SMS.

Wireless network B 104 also includes a RAN 118 that facilitatescommunication between a second mobile device 120 and the SMSC 114 and/orthe MMSC 116. The mobile device 120 may be any of the aforementioneddevice types, similar to the mobile device 106 as described above.

In some embodiments, a user of the first mobile device 106 and a user ofthe second mobile device 120 communicate using SMS, EMS, and/or MMSmessaging services. In the illustrated embodiment, wireless network A102 and wireless network B 104 are separate wireless networks. In someembodiments, wireless network A 102 and wireless network B 104 areoperated by different service providers. In other embodiments, wirelessnetwork A 102 and wireless network B 104 are operated by the sameservice provider. In some embodiments, the mobile devices 106, 120operate in the same wireless network. The mobile devices 106, 120 mayexchange messages with other mobile devices (not illustrated) operatingin the illustrated wireless communications network 100 or anotherwireless or landline network (not illustrated).

Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic block diagram of an exemplarymobile device 200 is illustrated. Although connections are not shownbetween the components illustrated in FIG. 2, the components caninteract with each other to carry out device functions. In someembodiments, for example, the components are arranged so as tocommunicate via one or more busses (not shown). It should be understoodthat FIG. 2 and the following description are intended to provide ageneral understanding of a suitable environment in which the variousaspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure can beimplemented.

In some embodiments, the mobile devices 106, 120 illustrated in FIG. 1are configured like the mobile device 200, now described in detail. Insome embodiments, the mobile device 200 is a multimode headset and has avariety of computer readable media, including, for example, volatilemedia, non-volatile media, removable media, and non-removable media. Theterm “computer-readable media” and variants thereof, as used in thespecification and claims, refers to storage media and communicationmedia. In some embodiments, storage media includes volatile and/ornon-volatile, removable, and/or non-removable media. For example,storage media includes random access memory (RAM), read-only memory(ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM),solid state memory or other memory technology, CD ROM, DVD, or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to storethe desired information and that can be accessed by the mobile device200.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile device 200 includes a display 202for displaying multimedia such as, for example, application graphicaluser interfaces (GUIs) (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6), text,images, video, telephony functions such as Caller ID data, setupfunctions, menus, music, metadata, messages, wallpaper, graphics,Internet content, device status, preferences settings, map and locationdata, presence profile selection, and the like. The illustrated mobiledevice 200 also includes a processor 204 for processing data and/orexecuting computer-executable instructions of one or more applications,and a memory 206 for storing data and/or one or more applications 208.

In some embodiments, the application(s) 208 include a user interface(UI) application 210. The UI application 210 interfaces with a client212 (e.g., an operating system (OS)) to facilitate user interaction withdevice functionality and data. In some embodiments, the client 212 isone of Symbian OS, Microsoft® Windows® Mobile OS (available fromMicrosoft® Corporation of Redmond, Wash.), Palm® webOS™ (available fromPalm® Corporation of Sunnyvale, Calif.), Palm® OS (available from Palm®Corporation of Sunnyvale, Calif.), RIM® BlackBerry® OS (available fromResearch In Motion Limited of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada), Apple® iPhone®OS (available from Apple® Corporation of Cupertino, Calif.), or Google™Android™ OS (available from Google™ of Mountain View, Calif.). Theseoperating systems are merely exemplary of the operating systems that canbe used in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein. Otheroperating systems are contemplated.

The UI application 210 aids a user in entering message content, viewingreceived messages, answering/initiating calls, entering/deleting data,entering and setting user IDs and passwords, configuring settings,manipulating address book content and/or settings, interacting withother applications 214, and the like. In some embodiments, the otherapplications 214 include, for example, message content filteringapplications, messaging applications (e.g., SMS, EMS, MMS applications)presence applications, text-to-speech applications, speech-to-textapplications, add-ons, plug-ins, email applications, music applications,video applications, camera applications, location service applications(LSAs), power conservation applications, game applications, productivityapplications, entertainment applications, enterprise applications,combinations thereof, and the like. The applications 208 are stored inthe memory 206 and/or in a firmware 216, and are executed by theprocessor 204. The firmware 216 may also store code for execution duringdevice 200 power up, for example.

The illustrated mobile device 200 also includes an input/output (I/O)interface 218 for input/output of data, such as, for example, locationinformation, filtering rule information, presence status information,selecting message content filtering options, user IDs, passwords, andapplication initiation (start-up) requests. In some embodiments, the I/Ointerface 218 is a hardwire connection, such as, for example, a USB,mini-USB, audio jack, PS2, IEEE 1394, serial, parallel, Ethernet (RJ48)port, RJ11 port, or the like. In some embodiments, the I/O interface 218accepts other I/O devices such as, for example, keyboards, keypads,mice, interface tethers, stylus pens, printers, thumb drives, touchscreens, multi-touch screens, touch pads, trackballs, joysticks,microphones, remote control devices, monitors, displays, liquid crystaldisplays (LCDs), combinations thereof, and the like. It should beappreciated that the I/O interface 218 may be used for communicationsbetween the mobile device 200 and a network or local device, instead of,or in addition to, a communications component 220.

The communications component 220 interfaces with the processor 204 tofacilitate wired/wireless communications with external systems. Exampleexternal systems include, but are not limited to, intranets, networkdatabases, network storage systems, cellular networks, location servers,presence servers, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks, localarea networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), metropolitan areanetworks (MANs), personal area networks (PANs), and other networks. Insome embodiments, the external systems are implemented using WIFI,WIMAX, combinations and/or improvements thereof, and the like. In someembodiments, the communications component 220 includes a multimodecommunications subsystem for providing cellular communications viadifferent cellular technologies. In some embodiments, for example, afirst cellular transceiver 222 operates in one mode, such as, GlobalSystem for Mobile communications (GSM), and an Nth cellular transceiver224 operates in a different mode, such as Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS). While only two cellular transceivers222, 224 are illustrated, it should be appreciated that a plurality oftransceivers can be included.

The illustrated communications component 220 also includes analternative communications transceiver 226 for use by othercommunications technologies such as, for example, WIFI, WIMAX,BLUETOOTH, infrared, infrared data association (IRDA), near fieldcommunications (NFC), RF, and the like. In some embodiments, thecommunications component 220 also facilitates reception from terrestrialradio networks, digital satellite radio networks, Internet-based radioservices networks, combinations thereof, and the like. Thecommunications component 220 can process data from a network such as,for example, the Internet, an intranet (e.g., business intranet), a homebroadband network, a WIFI hotspot, and the like, via an ISP, DSLprovider, or broadband provider. In some embodiments, the communicationscomponent 220 facilitates the transmission of authentication informationfrom the mobile device 200 to a network for processing in accordancewith the methods described herein.

Audio capabilities for the mobile device 200 can be provided by an audioI/O component 228 that includes a speaker for the output of audiosignals and a microphone to collect audio signals.

The illustrated mobile device 200 also includes a slot interface 230 foraccommodating a subscriber identity system 232 such as, for example, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card or universal SIM (USIM) card.Alternatively, the subscriber identity system 232 may be manufacturedinto the device 200, thereby obviating the need for a slot interface230. In some embodiments, the subscriber identity system 232 isprogrammed by a manufacturer, a retailer, a user, a computer, a networkoperator, or the like.

The illustrated mobile device 200 also includes an image capture andprocessing system 234 (image system). Photos may be obtained via anassociated image capture subsystem of the image system 234, for example,a camera. The illustrated mobile device 200 also includes a video system236 for capturing, processing, recording, modifying, and/or transmittingvideo content. Photos and videos obtained using the image system 234 andthe video system 236, respectively, may be added as message content toan MMS message and sent to another mobile device.

The illustrated mobile device 200 also includes a location component 238for sending and/or receiving signals such as, for example, GPS data,assisted GPS (A-GPS) data, WIFI/WIMAX and/or cellular networktriangulation data, combinations thereof, and the like, for determininga location of the mobile device 200. In some embodiments, the locationcomponent 238 interfaces with cellular network nodes, telephone lines,satellites, location transmitters and/or beacons, wireless networktransmitters and receivers, for example, WIFI hotspots, radiotransmitters, combinations thereof, and the like. In some embodiments,the mobile device 200 is configured to determine whether message contentreceived in a message is appropriate for a given location of the mobiledevice 200 determined using the location component 238, as will bedescribed in further detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

Using the location component 238, the mobile device 200 obtains,generates, and/or receives data to identify its location, or transmitsdata used by other devices to determine the location of the mobiledevice 200. In some embodiments, the location of the mobile device 200is used by a message content filtering application to determine whethermessage content of a received message is appropriate or inappropriatefor the location of the mobile device 200. The message content filteringapplication also determines whether inappropriate content should betreated as appropriate after the mobile device 200 travels to a new,safe location. An exemplary method for selectively filtering messagecontent received at the mobile device 200 based upon a current locationof the mobile device 200 is described below with reference to FIG. 3. Anexemplary GUI of a message content filtering application is illustratedin FIGS. 5 and 6.

The illustrated mobile device 200 also includes a power source 240, suchas batteries and/or other power subsystem (AC or DC). The power source240 can interface with an external power system or charging equipmentvia a power I/O component 242.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a method 300 for selectively filtering messagecontent received at the mobile device 200 based upon a current locationof the mobile device is illustrated, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. It should be understood that the steps of the method300 are not necessarily presented in any particular order and thatperformance of some or all the steps in an alternative order is possibleand is contemplated. The steps have been presented in the demonstratedorder for ease of description and illustration. Steps can be added,omitted and/or performed simultaneously without departing from the scopeof the appended claims. It should also be understood that theillustrated method 300 can be ended at any time. In certain embodiments,some or all steps of this process, and/or substantially equivalent stepscan be performed by execution of computer-readable instructions storedor included on a computer readable medium, such as the memory 206 of themobile device 200. In some embodiments, the other applications 214 ofthe mobile device 200 include a message content filtering (MCF)application configured to perform the steps of the method 300.

The method 300 begins and flow proceeds to block 302, whereat the MCFapplication detects a message being received. The message may be an SMSmessage, an EMS message, or an MMS message, as described above. Themessage includes message content, such as text, graphics, audio, and/orvideo. At block 304, the MCF application determines the current locationof the mobile device 200. The mobile device 200 may use the locationcomponent 238 to determine its location. A message content filteringapplication may be configured to communicate with a LSA to obtain thecurrent location of the mobile device.

At block 306, the MCF application analyzes the message content todetermine whether any portion of the message content is consideredinappropriate by the user of the mobile device 200 based upon afiltering rule established for the current location. The filtering rulemay include a location definition defining whether a given location isconsidered safe or banned and at least one filtering condition for thegiven location.

The location definition may be a precise location defined by a physicaladdress or latitude/longitude coordinates, for example. Alternatively,the location definition may define an area of any shape and size. Insome embodiments, the location definition includes a location center andan area including a specified distance around the location center. Thelocation definition may be user definable or may be dynamicallygenerated based upon movement patterns of the mobile device 200 with orwithout additional input from a user.

In some embodiments, a banned location is defined but a safe location isnot defined. In this case, when the mobile device 200 leaves a bannedlocation, the mobile device 200 enters what is considered by the MFCapplication to be a default safe location and modifies a message basedupon a default filtering rule, such as allowing all or some content atthe default safe location.

The MCF application may provide several ways for a user to create a newsafe or banned location. For example, the MCF application may provide anoption to create a new location using a map tool, using a currentlocation of the mobile device 200, or by manually entering locationinformation. These and other options are described in further detailwith reference to FIG. 5.

The filtering rule includes at least one filtering condition for a givensafe or banned location. Filtering conditions include, but are notlimited to, allow/ban content based upon a specified list of content(e.g., words, phrases, characters, letters, numbers, symbols, graphicfile names, explicit graphic types, video file names, explicit videotypes, spoken words, music types, ringtone types, and explicit audiotypes) allow/ban all content, allow/ban content from a contact,allow/ban pre-rated content based upon the rating, allow/ban based uponparental control settings, and the like.

At decision block 308, a determination is made as to whether any portionof the message content should be considered inappropriate based upon thefiltering rule established for the current location. If it is determinedthat any portion of the message content should be consideredinappropriate, flow is to block 310. At block 310, the MCF applicationmodifies the inappropriate portion of the message content such that theinappropriate portion is indiscernible to the user when the mobiledevice 200 is in the current location.

In some embodiments, the MCF application modifies the inappropriateportion of the message content by blocking the inappropriate portion ofthe message content. Blocking text, video, and/or graphics content mayinclude blacking out, graying out, whiting out, or otherwise coveringthe inappropriate portion of the message content such that it is notviewable.

In some embodiments, the MCF application modifies the inappropriateportion of the message content by temporarily removing the inappropriateportion of the message content. When the mobile device 200 arrives at asafe location, the temporary removal of the inappropriate portion islifted. The previously considered inappropriate portion is thenconsidered appropriate by the MCF application and available to bepresented to the user on the mobile device 200.

In some embodiments, the MCF application modifies the inappropriateportion of the message content by altering the inappropriate portion ofthe message content. Altering audio content may include introducingnoise into the audio signal, introducing other audio into the audiosignal, distorting the audio, speeding up or slowing down playback ofthe audio, changing the frequency of the audio, or otherwise alteringthe audio such that the audio is not discernable. Altering video contentmay include introducing frames to the video, introducing artifacts,introducing clipping, introducing aliasing, distorting the video,blurring the video, increasing or decreasing the frame rate, introducingother video, or otherwise altering the video such that the video is notdiscernable. Altering text content may include adding characters,symbols, numbers, and/or letters to the text content, changing the textcontent to other characters, symbols, numbers, and/or letters, removinga portion of the text so that the remaining portion is not discernable,skewing the text, blurring the text, introducing artifacts,increasing/decreasing the size of the text, distorting the text,changing the orientation of the text, or otherwise altering the text.Altering graphics may include, but is not limited to, filtering thegraphics with at least one filter, introducing artifacts, introducingaliasing, blurring the graphics, stretching the graphics,increasing/decreasing the size of the graphics, changing the orientationof the graphics, distorting the graphics, or otherwise altering thegraphics.

Returning to FIG. 3, at block 312, the MFC application presents only theappropriate portion of the message content to the user. The MFCapplication generally presents the appropriate portion in a mannerconsistent with the type of message content included in the appropriateportion. For example, text will be presented as text on a display, suchas the display 202 of the mobile device 200, as will graphics and video,and audio will be presented using a speaker of the mobile device 200,headphones or external speakers (e.g., vehicle, stationary, or portablespeakers) connected to a headphone jack of the mobile device, or viaanother audio output device, such as the audio I/O 228. It is alsocontemplated that text content may be converted to audio content via atext-to-speech application (e.g., one of the other applications 214)stored in the memory 206 of the mobile device, and that audio contentmay be converted to text content via a speech-to-text application (e.g.,one of the other applications 214).

At block 314, the MFC application monitors the movement of the mobiledevice 200, for example, using the location component 238 of the mobiledevice 200. In some embodiments, the MFC application requests locationinformation periodically from the location component 238 or a locationservices application of the other applications 214. When the mobiledevice 200 enters a location defined as a safe location, at block 316,the MFC application modifies the message content based upon a filteringrule established for the safe location. The message content previouslyconsidered to be inappropriate at the original location (currentlocation above) may now considered appropriate and is modifiedaccordingly. For example, content modified to be indiscernible to theuser or others is returned to its original condition. At block 318, theMFC application presents the message content to the user. The method 300can end.

If, at block 308, it is determined that no portion of the message isconsidered inappropriate, flow is to block 318. At block 318, the MFCapplication presents the message content to the user. The method 300 canend.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a method 400 for selectively filtering messagecontent received at the mobile device 200 based upon a presence statusof the mobile device is illustrated, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. It should be understood that the steps of the method400 are not necessarily presented in any particular order and thatperformance of some or all the steps in an alternative order is possibleand is contemplated. The steps have been presented in the demonstratedorder for ease of description and illustration. Steps can be added,omitted and/or performed simultaneously without departing from the scopeof the appended claims. It should also be understood that theillustrated method 400 can be ended at any time. In certain embodiments,some or all steps of this process, and/or substantially equivalent stepscan be performed by execution of computer-readable instructions storedor included on a computer readable medium, such as the memory 206 of themobile device 200. In some embodiments, the applications 208 of themobile device 200 include an MCF application configured to perform thesteps of the method 400.

The term presence as used herein refers to, for example, theavailability, activity level, or operating state of a user on a network.The ability for users to monitor each other's presence is a featureoffered in connection with some messaging applications of the presentdisclosure (e.g., other applications 214). For example, some messagingapplications have a buddy list or contact list feature that displays acontact list and a presence status for each contact in the list. Thepresence status indicates a user's availability and/or current activityso that others can determine whether to send a message to a particularcontact. In context of the present method 400, a user's presence status,for example, available, not available, do not disturb, or custom status,is used by the MFC application to determine whether message contentreceived in an SMS, EMS, or MMS message should be considered appropriateor inappropriate.

The method 400 begins and flow proceeds to block 402, whereat the MCFapplication detects a message being received. The message may be an SMSmessage, an EMS message, or an MMS message, as described above. Themessage includes message content, such as text, graphics, audio, and/orvideo. At block 404, the MCF application analyzes the message content todetermine whether any portion of the message content would be consideredinappropriate by the user of the mobile device 200 based upon afiltering rule established for the current presence status of the user.The filtering rule includes at least one filtering condition for a givenpresence status. Filtering conditions include, but are not limited to,allow/ban content based upon a specified list, allow/ban all content,allow/ban content from a contact, allow/ban pre-rated content based uponthe rating, allow/ban based upon parental control settings, and thelike.

At decision block 406, a determination is made as to whether any portionof the message content should be considered inappropriate based upon thefiltering rule established for the current presence status. If it isdetermined that any portion of the message content should be consideredinappropriate, flow is to block 408. At block 408, the MCF applicationmodifies the inappropriate portion of the message content such that theinappropriate portion is indiscernible to the user when the mobiledevice 200 is in the current location.

In some embodiments, the MCF application modifies the inappropriateportion of the message content by blocking the inappropriate portion ofthe message content. Blocking text, video, and/or graphics content mayinclude blacking out, graying out, whiting out, or otherwise coveringthe inappropriate portion of the message content such that it is notviewable. In some embodiments, the MCF application modifies theinappropriate portion of the message content by temporarily removing theinappropriate portion of the message content. In some embodiments, theMCF application modifies the inappropriate portion of the messagecontent by altering the inappropriate portion of the message content.Altering audio content may include introducing noise into the audiosignal, introducing other audio into the audio signal, distorting theaudio, speeding up or slowing down playback of the audio, changing thefrequency of the audio, or otherwise altering the audio such that theaudio is not discernable. Altering video content may include introducingframes to the video, introducing artifacts, introducing clipping,introducing aliasing, distorting the video, blurring the video,increasing or decreasing the frame rate, introducing other video, orotherwise altering the video such that the video is not discernable.Altering text content may include adding characters, symbols, numbers,and/or letters to the text content, changing the text content to othercharacters, symbols, numbers, and/or letters, removing a portion of thetext so that the remaining portion is not discernable, skewing the text,blurring the text, introducing artifacts, increasing/decreasing the sizeof the text, distorting the text, changing the orientation of the text,or otherwise altering the text. Altering graphics may include, but isnot limited to, filtering the graphics, introducing artifacts,introducing aliasing, blurring the graphics, stretching the graphics,increasing/decreasing the size of the graphics, changing the orientationof the graphics, distorting the graphics, or otherwise altering thegraphics.

Returning to FIG. 4, at block 410, the MFC application presents only theappropriate portion of the message content to the user. The MFCapplication generally presents the appropriate portion in a mannerconsistent with the type of message content included in the appropriateportion. For example, text will be presented as text on a display, suchas the display 202 of the mobile device 200, as will graphics and video,and audio will be presented using a speaker of the mobile device 200,headphones or external speakers (e.g., vehicle, stationary, or portablespeakers) connected to a headphone jack of the mobile device, or viaanother audio output device, such as the audio I/O 228. It is alsocontemplated that text content may be converted to audio content via atext-to-speech application (e.g., one of the other applications 214)stored in the memory 206 of the mobile device, and that audio contentmay be converted to text content via a speech-to-text application (e.g.,one of the other applications 214).

At block 412, the MFC application detects a change from the currentpresence status to a new presence status. At block 414, the MFCapplication modifies the message content based upon a filtering ruleestablished for the new presence status. The message content previouslyconsidered to be inappropriate under the previous presence status is nowconsidered appropriate and is modified accordingly. For example, contentmodified to be indiscernible to the user or others is returned to itsoriginal condition. At block 416, the MFC application presents themessage content to the user. The method 400 can end.

If, at block 406, it is determined that no portion of the message shouldbe considered inappropriate, flow is to block 416. At block 416, the MFCapplication presents the message content to the user. The method 400 canend.

In some alternative embodiments, the methods 300, 400 may be performedbased solely upon a time-based filtering rule or based upon a time-basedfiltering rule in addition to a location-based or presence-basedfiltering rule. Under certain time-based filtering rules, for example,message content is not filtered at all during certain time periods(e.g., weekends, after 6 PM, a particular date) even though the mobiledevice 200 is within a banned location or when the user's presencestatus is set such that certain message content should be banned.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) 500of an MCF application operating on the exemplary mobile device 200 ofFIG. 2 is illustrated, according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. It should be understood that the layout, font type, fontstyle, color, filtering options, menu design, and exemplary selectionchoices are provided merely as one embodiment in which a GUI of the MCFapplication may be configured and are not intended to reduce the scopeof the appended claims.

The illustrated GUI 500 shows that an option has been selected to enablelocation-based message content filtering for text and multimediacontent. Other options are available to enable presence-based messagecontent filtering as an alternative to or in addition to thelocation-based filtering option, as described below with respect to FIG.6.

The illustrated GUI 500 also includes options to create a new locationdefinition for a safe or banned location. A safe location, for example,may be created or defined using a map tool, the current location of themobile device 200, or manual entry. If the map tool option is selected,the user may be presented with a map on which the user definesboundaries of the safe location. In some embodiments, a user defines thesafe location by drawing the boundaries of the safe location on adigital map. In some embodiments, a user defines a center point (e.g.,manually entered or retrieved via the location component 238 of themobile device 200) and a radius to define the safe location. If thecurrent location option is selected, as illustrated, the MFC applicationwill define the safe location for the current location. The MFCapplication may add a default distance (e.g., 50 feet, 100 feet, 2miles, etc.) around the specified or determined location to be includedin the safe location definition. Alternatively, the user may specify adistance around the current location to be included in the safe locationdefinition.

If the manual entry option for location creation is selected, the usermay enter at least one of country name, state name, province name, zipcode, county name, city name, physical address, neighborhood,latitude/longitude coordinates, point-of-interest, or other informationto define the safe location. The illustrated GUI 500 includes similaroptions to create a new banned location.

The illustrated GUI 500 also includes filtering rule settings. Asillustrated, a user may select a saved safe location or a saved bannedlocation and apply at least one filtering condition for that location.An option for adding new filtering conditions is also illustrated. Inthe illustrated example, a user has selected School and has applied aBan—List B filtering condition, indicating that when the user's mobiledevice is located within a location defined for the banned locationSchool, any message content that is included in list B is modified so asto be indiscernible to the user and other potential viewers/listenersuntil the mobile device 200 reaches a safe location.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) 600of an MCF application operating on the exemplary mobile device 200 ofFIG. 2 is illustrated, according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. It should be understood that the layout, font type, fontstyle, color, filtering options, menu design, and exemplary selectionchoices are provided merely as one embodiment in which a GUI of the MCFapplication may be configured and are not intended to reduce the scopeof the appended claims.

The illustrated GUI 600 shows that an option has been selected to enablepresence-based message content filtering for text content. Other optionsare available to enable location-based message content filtering as analternative to or in addition to the presence-based filtering option, asdescribed above.

The illustrated GUI 600 also includes options to use a default presenceprofile, set a custom presence profile, or create a new presenceprofile. A presence profile includes presence statuses and filteringconditions for each presence status. For example, a presence status ofnot available may include a filtering condition to ban all content and apresence status of not available may include a filtering condition toallow all content. In some embodiments, a user's presence status isupdated manually by the user. In alternative embodiments, a user'spresence status is updated automatically based upon a predefinedcondition, such as a location, a time, a particular application beingused on the mobile device 200, a minute or data usage condition, (e.g.,presence status is not available if minute and/or data usage for abilling period has exceeded a specified amount), a battery lifecondition (e.g., presence status is not available if battery level isnear, at, or below a specified minimum).

The illustrated GUI 600 also includes filtering rule settings. Asillustrated, a user may select a presence status for the active presenceprofile and apply at least one filtering condition for that presencestatus. This process may be repeated for each presence status definedfor the active presence profile. An option for adding new filteringconditions is also illustrated. In the illustrated example, a user hasselected Not Available as the presence status and has applied a Ban—ListA filtering condition, indicating that when the user's active profile isCustom Presence Profile 2 and the user's presence status is set to NotAvailable, any message content that is included in list A is modified soas to be indiscernible to the user and other potential viewers/listenersuntil the user's presence status changes to a new presence status whichdoes not include a similar filtering condition.

The aforementioned embodiments often describe message content filteringperformed at a mobile device (e.g., the mobile device 200). Alternativeembodiments are contemplated in which message content filtering isperformed at a network element, such as, for example, an SMSC, an MMSC,or a dedicated filtering server configured to filter message content.

In one such embodiment, a message content filtering (MCF) application isstored in a memory of the network element and is configured to performfiltering functions consistent with the functions performed by the MCFapplication as described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Forexample, while FIG. 3 is described with reference to an MCF applicationstored on the mobile device 200, in some embodiments, the networkelement uses a similar MCF application to perform like functions at thenetwork level. It is contemplated that the steps of the method 300illustrated in FIG. 3 may be performed by the network element as opposedto the mobile device 200. Some steps, however, may require slightmodification.

For example, the step illustrated in block 302 may be replaced with astep for receiving a message directed to the mobile device 200. Afterthe message is received, the network element determines a currentlocation of the mobile device using the MCF application stored in thenetwork element to communicate with a location server to obtain locationinformation for the mobile device 200 so as to be consistent with block304. The step illustrated in block 312 for presenting only theappropriate portion of the message content to the user may be replacedwith a step sending the appropriate portion of the message content in afirst message to the mobile device 200. Similarly, the step illustratedin block 318 for presenting the message content to the user may bereplaced with a step for sending the message content in a second messageto the mobile device 200. The message content in the second message mayinclude the entire original message or only the new content notpreviously sent in the first message. In the latter example, the mobiledevice 200 is configured to combine the message content of the firstmessage and the new message content of the second message.

In another embodiment, the SMSC, or the MMSC, where appropriate,receives a message and sends the message to a dedicated filteringserver. The dedicated filtering server determines, based upon afiltering rule, whether the message includes inappropriate messagecontent. If the message includes inappropriate message content, thededicated filtering server modifies the message content as describedabove.

In another embodiment, the network element receives a message andmodifies the message to include an indication that the message must bemodified after it is received at the mobile device 200. If the shortmessage peer-to-peer (SMPP) protocol is used, for example, the user dataheader (UDH) may be modified to include the indication that the messageshould be modified based upon a particular filtering rule known to themobile device 200. In this example, the mobile device 200 receives themessage, checks the UDH, and modifies the message based upon thefiltering rule identified in the UDH. Alternatively, the network elementadds message modification instructions to the message header or messagebody. In this alternative, the mobile device 200 modifies the messageaccording to the instructions, removes the instructions, and presentsthe modified message to the user.

The above embodiments are equally applicable to message content beingfiltered based upon filtering rules established for a user's presencestatus. In this case, the network element communicates with a presenceserver to obtain current and subsequent presence statuses for a user andproceeds according to the method 400 of FIG. 4. Some steps of the method400, however, may require slight modifications similar to thosedescribed above with reference to a modified method 300.

The law does not require and it is economically prohibitive toillustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present claims.Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplaryillustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding ofthe principles of the disclosure. Variations, modifications, andcombinations may be made to the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims. All such variations,modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of thisdisclosure and the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-readable storage medium having storedthereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations, for selectivelyfiltering message content received at a mobile device, based upon acurrent location of the mobile device, comprising: detecting a messagetransmitted for receipt at the mobile device, the message comprisingmessage content; determining the current location of the mobile device;analyzing the message content to determine, based upon a filtering ruleestablished for the mobile device corresponding to the current location,whether any portion of the message content is inappropriate; if it isdetermined that no portion of the message content is inappropriate,presenting the message content to a user of the mobile device when themobile device is at the current location; and if it is determined thatany portion of the message content is inappropriate based upon thefiltering rule established for the mobile device corresponding to thecurrent location: modifying the inappropriate portion of the messagecontent, such that the inappropriate portion is indiscernible to theuser when the mobile device is at the current location; presenting anyappropriate portion of the message content to the user of the mobiledevice; monitoring movement of the mobile device from the currentlocation to a safe location, wherein a filtering rule established forthe mobile device for the safe location considers the inappropriateportion of the message content to be appropriate when the mobile deviceis at the safe location; modifying the message content based upon thefiltering rule established for the mobile device for the safe location,such that the inappropriate portion of the message content previouslydetermined to be inappropriate is available to the user when the mobiledevice is at the safe location; and presenting the message content tothe user of the mobile device when the mobile device is at the safelocation.
 2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, whereindetecting the message comprises detecting a text message, the messagecontent including text.
 3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim1, wherein detecting the message comprises detecting a multimediamessage, the message content including at least two of text, graphics,audio, and video.
 4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1,wherein analyzing the message content to determine whether any portionof the message content is inappropriate based upon the filtering ruleestablished for the current location comprises analyzing the messagecontent to determine whether any portion of the message content isinappropriate based upon the filtering rule established for the currentlocation and an area around the current location.
 5. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein analyzing themessage content to determine whether any portion of the message contentis inappropriate based upon the filtering rule established for thecurrent location comprises analyzing the message content to determinewhether any portion of the message content is inappropriate based uponthe filtering rule established for the current location, the filteringrule being defined by the user of the mobile device.
 6. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the filtering rulebeing defined by the user of the mobile device comprises the filteringrule being defined based upon a content rating assigned to messagecontent.
 7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, whereinanalyzing the message content to determine whether any portion of themessage content is inappropriate based upon the filtering ruleestablished for the current location, comprises analyzing the messagecontent to determine whether any portion of the message content isinappropriate based upon the filtering rule established for the currentlocation, the filtering rule being set by a wireless service provider.8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein: modifyingthe inappropriate portion of the message content, such that theinappropriate portion is indiscernible to the user when the mobiledevice is at the current location comprises blocking the inappropriateportion of the message content; and modifying the message content basedupon the filtering rule established for the mobile device for the safelocation, such that the inappropriate portion of the message contentpreviously determined to be inappropriate is available to the user whenthe mobile device is at the safe location, comprises unblocking thepreviously considered inappropriate portion of the message content. 9.The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein modifying theinappropriate portion of the message content, such that theinappropriate portion is indiscernible to the user when the mobiledevice is at the current location, comprises temporarily removing theinappropriate portion of the message content; and modifying the messagecontent based upon the filtering rule established for the mobile devicefor the safe location, such that the inappropriate portion of themessage content previously determined to be inappropriate is availableto the user when the mobile device is at the safe location, comprisesadding the previously considered inappropriate portion of the messagecontent back into the message content.
 10. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 1, wherein: modifying the inappropriate portion of themessage content, such that the inappropriate portion is indiscernible tothe user when the mobile device is at the current location, comprisesaltering the inappropriate portion of the message content; and modifyingthe message content based upon the filtering rule established for themobile device for the safe location, such that the inappropriate portionof the message content previously determined to be inappropriate isavailable to the user when the mobile device is at the safe location,comprises undoing the altering of the previously consideredinappropriate portion of the message content.
 11. A computer-readablestorage medium, for selectively filtering message content received at amobile device, based upon a current presence status of a user of themobile device, comprising: detecting a message transmitted for receiptat the mobile device, the message comprising message content; analyzingthe message content to determine, based upon a filtering ruleestablished for a current presence status of a user of the mobiledevice, whether any portion of the message content is inappropriate; ifit is determined that no portion of the message content isinappropriate, presenting the message content to the user of the mobiledevice; and if it is determined that any portion of the message contentis inappropriate based upon the filtering rule established for thecurrent present status of the user of the mobile device: modifying theinappropriate portion of the message content, such that theinappropriate portion is indiscernible to the user when the currentpresence status is active; presenting the appropriate portion of themessage content to the user of the mobile device; detecting a changefrom the current presence status to a new presence status, the newpresence status triggering a new filtering rule to be implemented thatconsiders the inappropriate portion of the message content previouslydetermined to be inappropriate as being appropriate for the new presencestatus; modifying the message content based upon the new filtering rule,such that the inappropriate portion of the message content previouslydetermined to be inappropriate is available to the user; and presentingthe message content to the user of the mobile device when the newpresence status is active.
 12. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 11, wherein analyzing the message content to determine whether anyportion of the message content is inappropriate based upon the filteringrule established for the current presence status comprises analyzing themessage content to determine whether any portion of the message contentis inappropriate based upon the filtering rule established for thecurrent presence status, the filtering rule being set by the user of themobile device.
 13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12,wherein the filtering rule being defined based upon criteria set by theuser of the mobile device, in setting the filtering rule, comprises thefiltering rule being defined based upon a content rating assigned tomessage content.
 14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11,wherein analyzing the message content to determine whether any portionof the message content is inappropriate based upon the filtering ruleestablished for the current presence status comprises analyzing themessage content to determine whether any portion of the message contentis inappropriate based upon the filtering rule established for thecurrent presence status, the filtering rule being set by a wirelessservice provider.
 15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11,wherein: modifying the inappropriate portion of the message content,such that the inappropriate portion is indiscernible to the user whenthe current presence status is active comprises blocking theinappropriate portion of the message content; and modifying the messagecontent based upon the new filtering rule, such that the inappropriateportion of the message content previously determined to be inappropriateis available to the user comprises unblocking the previously consideredinappropriate portion of the message content.
 16. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 11, wherein modifying the inappropriate portionof the message content, such that the inappropriate portion isindiscernible to the user during the current presence status comprisestemporarily removing the inappropriate portion of the message content;and modifying the message content based upon the new filtering rule,such that the inappropriate portion of the message content previouslydetermined to be inappropriate is available to the user comprises addingthe previously considered inappropriate portion of the message contentback into the message content.
 17. The computer-readable storage mediumof claim 11, wherein: modifying the inappropriate portion of the messagecontent, such that the inappropriate portion is indiscernible to theuser when the current presence status is active comprises altering theinappropriate portion of the message content; and modifying the messagecontent based upon the new filtering rule, such that the inappropriateportion of the message content previously determined to be inappropriateis available to the user comprises undoing the altering of thepreviously considered inappropriate portion of the message content. 18.The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein detecting themessage comprises detecting a text message, the message contentincluding text.
 19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11,wherein detecting the message comprises detecting a multimedia message,the message content including at least two of text, graphics, audio, andvideo.
 20. A mobile device, configured to selectively filter messagecontent in connection with the mobile device, comprising: a transceiverfor receiving message content; a processor operably connected to thetransceiver; and a memory, operably connected to the processor, thememory having instructions which, when executed by the processor, causethe processor to perform operations comprising: detecting a messagetransmitted for receipt at the mobile device, the message comprisingmessage content; analyzing the message content to determine, based upona filtering rule established for a current presence status of a user ofthe mobile device, whether any portion of the message content isinappropriate; if it is determined that no portion of the messagecontent is inappropriate, presenting the message content to the user ofthe mobile device; and if it is determined that any portion of themessage content is inappropriate based upon the filtering ruleestablished for the current present status of the user of the mobiledevice; modifying the inappropriate portion of the message content, suchthat the inappropriate portion is indiscernible to the user when thecurrent presence status is active; presenting the appropriate portion ofthe message content to the user of the mobile device; detecting a changefrom the current presence status to a new presence status, the newpresence status triggering a new filtering rule to be implemented thatconsiders the inappropriate portion of the message content previouslydetermined to be inappropriate as being appropriate for the new presencestatus; modifying the message content based upon the new filtering rule,such that the inappropriate portion of the message content previouslydetermined to be inappropriate is available to the user; and presentingthe message content to the user of the mobile device when the newpresence status is active.